Page 1709 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 7 June 2023
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I move:
That the Assembly take note of the ministerial statement.
MS LAWDER (Brindabella) (10.13): I will speak very briefly on the government response. I would note that I have not seen the government response as yet, so I cannot speak in detail to what is in it.
I think it is disappointing from the deaf and hard-of-hearing community’s perspective that two of, I think, their key and most important issues are not agreed by the government, according to the minister’s statement this morning. They relate to an Auslan task force and recognising Auslan as an official language.
I understand the complexities involved with having an acknowledgement of Auslan as an official language. It is very difficult, but I think that is where the starting point was for the deaf community coming to the Assembly, which eventually led to an inquiry by the ECI committee.
The third one apparently not agreed to was about an educational facility. We know that there is a lot of mainstreaming of deaf and hard-of-hearing students. But this is not the right response for every student, and there are many students who are the only deaf or hard-of-hearing person in their class or even their school. I know that the public inquiry heard that these are kids who are looking for their tribe and wanting to be a part of a bigger community. So it is sad that this particular recommendation is not agreed.
Again I stress that I have not seen the full government response; so I cannot comment much further. But I would like to reassure the members of Canberra’s deaf and hard-of-hearing community that I will continue, as I have always done, to advocate for what they need.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Road Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2022
Debate resumed from 23 November 2022, on motion by Mr Steel:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
MR PARTON (Brindabella) (10.16): The Canberra Liberals will be supporting the Road Safety Amendment Bill 2022 in full, and we share in the government’s commitment to Vision Zero on roads here in the ACT.
Road safety, as I am sure you would agree, Madam Speaker, should not be a political issue. We acknowledge the government’s sensible steps in this space and very sensible steps with this piece of legislation. I, for one, am of the belief that, once this bill is passed, our roads will be a little safer—and, really, that is all we should ask for.
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